Gas dispensing device



NOV. 11, 1952 ROY WERNER 2,617,162

GAS DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1945 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 I IN V TOR.

\ ,Lefioell. erger- BY gm i W #4 Nov. 11, 1952 LE ROY L. WERNER 2,617,162

GAS DISPENSING DEVICE I Filed April 5, 1945 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET 2 Walla/fl IN VENT OR H efioj L. )Verper HTZORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS DISPENSING DEVICE Le Roy L. Werner, Washington, D. 0. Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,812

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

7 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein, if patented may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a system of dispensing of gas stored in a container in liquefied form, more particularly to the dispensing of methyl bromide from a container in which it is stored in liquid form.

Methyl bromide is a gas having a boiling point of about 4.5" C. or about 40 F. This boiling point suits it for packaging in a container at a room temperature below its boiling point; it then is shipped safely and economically in the sealed container. When it is desired to use the methyl bromide, chiefly as a fumigant, the container is opened at a temperature above 4.5? C. and the gaseous methyl bromide is permitted to come in contact with the object to be treated. The standard can for shipping methyl bromide has a net content of one pound.

Difficulties in the application of methyl bromide and other gases stored in liquid form have been encountered due to the cooling effeet which attends the vaporization of the liquid gas upon contact with atmosphere; this causes the temperature of the container to drop below the boiling point of the gas, and an equilibrium is thus reached and further vaporization stopped. Another problem peculiar to the handling of fumigating gases is the prevention of the escape of -the poisonous gas into the atmosphere outside the fumigation system, particularly in the operation ofopening the gas container.

The present invention provides a new, simple,

safe, and economical system for the dispensing of methyl bromide or other liquefiable fumigant gases.

' An object of the invention is the opening of a gas container in such a manner that the operator does not come in contact with the can during the opening operation.

Another object of the invention is the prevention of the escape of fumigating gas into the atmosphere outside the fumigating system. 7 Another object of theinvention-is the uninterrupted vaporization of the gas after the opening of the container in which it is stored in liquid form.

' Yet another object is the utilization of the rest of the exhaust gases of a combustion engine associated with the fumigating apparatus for the utilization of the methyl bromide or other liqu'efied'fumigant gas.

A further object of the invention is 'the"opera-' 2 7 tion of a fumigating system at an outside temperature below the boiling point of the fumigat ing gas, thereby making possible a fumigating operation in cool climates.

Still other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the principle of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a front section view of a fumigating apparatus with a gas dispensing device in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a lateral section through, and Figure 3 is a partly broken away front elevation of a modification of a gas dispensing system in accordance with my invention.

Figure 4 is a partly broken away front elevation of another of my system.

Figure 5 is a lateral section through another modification of my gas dispensing device.

I have discovered that the container of the liquid methyl bromide (or other substance with similar properties) may be safely opened by inserting the container into a compartment connected with the fumigating system by a conduit, and pressing the container by closing the lid of the compartment against the puncturing device which forms part of the fitting connecting the compartment and the fumigating system.

I have further discovered that the injurious,

cooling effect which attends the vaporization of the gas upon opening the container can vbe.

counteracted by heating the, conduit or the compartment by means of exhaust gases from a .com-

bustion engine or other suitable sources .of heat;-

in the use of a fumigating apparatus, I prefer to use the exhaust gases from the engine which drives the fan which is in the fumigating chamber.

In the following description of the drawings,

I denotes a conventional fumigating chamber;

2 is a fan on the inside of the chamber for the circulation of the fumigating gas within the chamber. Fan 2 is driven by a small combustion engine 3 by means of a driving shaft 4 which passes through a wall of chamber l in a gas-tight packing box 5. A fumigating gas dispensing device 6, specially constructed in ac: cordance with my invention (several embodiments of which will be described in detail below), is bracketed or otherwise attached to the outside of chamber I, and a tube 1 for conducting the gas into chamber I leads from injector 6 to a point near fan 2 through a perforated:

rubber stopper 8 or other gas-tight packing lodged in a wall of chamber I. A pipe 9 leads from the exhaust of engine 3 through gas-dis pensing device 6, and terminates in exhaust head or muflier [0.

In the following detailed description of an embodiment of a gas-dispensing device illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, which corresponds to device 6, shown in Figure 1, H denotes the can containing the methyl bromide or other similar substance as a liquid l2. The can is inserted into cylindrical compartment 13, the inner dimensions of which are slightly larger than the outer dimensions of can H. Pivoted lid id of compartment l3 can be closed by means of a clamp comprising hook i5 and draw bolt it or other suitable pressure exerting means. In the bottom of compartment I3, preferably at its center, there is a perforation it through which passes the end of tube '1 which communicates with the fumigating chamber I. The end of tube 1 is rigidly secured to the bottom of compartment l3 and terminates in a hollow point I? having a perforation l8, the distance of point H from the upper level of compartment l3 being less than the height of can H. The protruding end of tube l is surrounded by sleeve E9 of elastic and substantially gas-impermeable material, such as rubber, the bottom of the sleeve resting on the bottom of compartment It. To open can II it is inserted into compartment i3 and lid [4 is closed by draw bolt 5. The bottom of can II is thus forced against point I? and pierced; the contents 12 of can N then pass into tube 1 through perforation i3. Simultaneously, sleeve i9 is compressed and provides a gas-tight seal of the opening in can ii against the outside.

Continuous vaporization of the contents !2 of can II is accomplished by surrounding compartment I3 with an annular housing or jacket 23} provided with inlet 2i and outlet 22 for the passage of exhaust or other hot gas, or hot liquid through housing 29, whereby heat is supplied to can H; in the arrangement of Figure l, inlet 2i is connected with exhaust pipe 9 leading from engine 3.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 4 the inner diameter of compartment 23 is somewhat larger than the diameter of can ll. Hot gases or hot water are passed through the hollow coil 24 (which in the arrangement of Figure 1 is integral with pipe 9) intermediate compartment 23 and can H. A coiled electric resistance wire can be substituted for coil 2%.

In the modification shown in Figure 5, a length of tube '1 is shaped into a coil 25 which is surrounded by jacket 26. Coil 25 in turn surrounds a length of pipe 21 which leads through jacket 26 for the passage of the hot fluid; in an arrangement according to Figure 5, pipe 2'! is an integral portion of the exhaust gas pipe. Heat insulating material 28 may be placed between coil 25 and jacket 26 for confining in the heat exchange between pipe 2? and coil 25 to their immediate vicinity and for preventing dissipation of heat through jacket 26. Heat exchange between the hot fluid passing through pipe 2i and the fluid passing through coil 25 effects the desired vaporization of the latter fluid. The end of tube '1 beyond jacket 25 is integral with a canpiercing device 29 which pierces the can H and seals the punched hole against the atmosphere; can-piercing devices of this type are manufactured and sold commercially and I do not claim them as such. Can H is placed on top of jacket c mp s 26 and is clamped. in place by conventional means. A jacket (not shown) may surround said can Ii.

It is obvious that other modifications of the foregoing embodiments will readily occur to the expert. The scope of the invention is therefore not limited by these embodiments, which are in the nature of illustrations, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A fumigating system including a chamber; a fumigant-circulating fan in said chamber; a combustion engine for operating said fumigantcirculating fan and fumigant-dispensing means in combination, heat exchange means at the outside of said chamber, said heat exchange means cooperating with a liquefiedfumigant-containing can, said fumigant having a boiling point below room temperature when unconfined, a fumigant-conduit leading from said heat exchange means into said chamber, an apertured hollow piercing point on that end or said conduit which is outside said chamber, said point being in can-piercing position, and lever means for urging said can against said point; said heat exchange means including fumigantheating means comprising a pipe leading from the exhaust of said combustion engine and ex-v tending outside said chamber into heat-exchange. relation with the liquefied fumigant without communicating with said fumigant, whereby said liquefied fumigant is vaporized prior to its entry into said chamber.

2. A iumigating system including a chamber; a fumigant-circulating fan in said chamber; a combustion engine for operating said fumigantq circulating fan; and fumigant-dispensing means comprising, in combination, a compartment at the outside of said chamberfor receiving a liquefied-fumigant-containing can, said Iuinigant having a boiling point below room temperaturev when unconfined, a fumigant-conduit leading from said compartment into said chamber, an apertured hollow piercing point on that end of said conduit which is outside said chamber, said point being in can-piercing position, lever means for urging said can against said point, and fumigant-heating means comprising a pipe leading from the exhaust of said combustion engineand extending outside said chamber into heat-exchange relation with the side wall of said s sa d tem am nt er a d l usfi q fumigant is vaporized upon leaving said can.

3. A fumigating system including a chamber; umiean r u ting fan in aid. c am er a combustion engine for operating said iumi ai fi' circulating fan; and fumigant-dispensing means comprising, in combination, a compartment at the outside of said chamber for receiving a liqdeanta can aid ium sant having a boiling point below room temperature when unconfined, a fumigant-conduit leading from said compartment into said chamber, an apertured hollow piercing point on that end of said conduit which is outside said chamber, said point being in can-piercing position, lever means for urging said can against said point, and fumigant-heating means comprising a jacket sur: rounding said compartment and a pipe connecting the exhaust of said combustion engine with said jacket for conducting hot exhaust gas through said jacket into heat exchange relation with the side wall of said can in said compartment, whereby said liquefied fumigapt is vaporz d p n l a ing aid 4. A fumigating system including a chamber; a fumigant-circulating fan in said chamber; a combustion engine for operatin said fumigantcirculating fan; and fumigant-dispensing means comprising, in combination, a compartment at the outside of said chamber for receiving a liquefied-fumigant-containing can, said fumigant having a boiling point below room temperature when unconfined, a iumigant-conduit leading from said compartment into said chamber, an apertured hollow piercing point on that end of said conduit which is outside said chamber, said point being in can-piercin position, lever means for urging said can against said point, and fumigant-heating means comprising a pipe leading from the exhaust of said combustion engine and terminating in a coil surrounding said can in said compartment for conducting hot exhaust gas into heat exchange relation with the side wall of said can in said compartment, whereby said liquefied fumigant is vaporized upon leaving said can.

5. A fumigating system including a chamber; a fumigant-circulatin fan in said chamber; a combustion engine for operating said fumigantcirculation fan; and fumigant-dispensing means comprising, in combination, heat exchange means at the outside of said chamber, said heat exchange means cooperating with a liquefiedfumigant-containing can, said fumig-ant having a boiling point below room temperature when unconfined, a coiled fumigant-conduit leading from said heat exchange means into said chamber, an apertured hollow piercing point on that end of said conduit which is outside said chamber, said point bein in can-piercin position, and lever means for urging said can against said point; said heat exchange means including fumigant-heating means comprising a pipe leading from the exhaust of said combustion engine and extending outside said chamber into heat exchange relation with said coiled fumigant-conduit without communicating with said fumigant, whereby said liquefied fumigant is vaporized in said coiled fumigant-conduit prior to its entry into said chamber.

6. A fumigating system including a chamber; a fumigant-circulating fan in said chamber; a combustion engine for operating said fumigantcirculating fan; and fumigant-dispensing means comprising, in combination, heat exchange means at the outside of said chamber, said heat exchange means cooperating with a liquefied-fumigant-containing can, said fumigant having a boling point below room temperature when unconfined, a coiled fumigant-conduit leadin from said heat exchange means into said chamber, and fumigant-heating means comprising a pipe leading from the exhaust of said combustion engine and extending outside said chamber into heatexchange relation with said coiled fumigant-conduit without communicating with said fumigant; said heat exchange means including a jacket surrounding said coiled fumigant-conduit and said pipe, and heat insulating means disposed in said jacket; whereby said liquefied fumigant is vaporized in said coiled fum'igant-conduit prior to its entry into said chamber.

'7. A fumigating system including a chamber; a fumigant-circulating fan in said chamber; a combustion engine for operating said fumigantcirculatin fan; and fumigant-dispensing means comprising, in combination, heat exchange means at the outside of said chamber, said heat exchange means cooperating with a liquefied-fumigant-containing can, said fumigant having a boiling point below room temperature when unconfined, a coiled fumigant-conduit leading from said heat exchange means into said chamber, an apertured hollow piercing point on that end of said conduit which is outside said chamber, said point being in can-piercing position, and lever means for urging said can against said point; said heat exchange means including fumigantheating means comprising a pipe leading from the exhaust of said combustion engine and extending outside said chamber into heat-exchange relation with said coiled fumigant-conduit without communicating with said fumigant, a jacket surrounding said coiled fum'igant-conduit and said pipe, and heat insulatin means disposed in said jacket; whereby said liquefied fumigant is vaporized in said coiled fumigant-conduit prior .to its entry into said chamber.

LE ROY L. WERNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,515,240 Cox Nov. 11, 1924 1,556,734 Taylor Oct. 13, 1925 1,648,657 Mock Nov. 8, 1927 1,842,844 Savage Jan. 26, 1932 2,047,973 Lawton et al. July 21, 1936 2,156,869 Richert Mayz, 1939 2,240,001 Harvey Apr. 29, 1941 2,299,789 Black Oct. 27, 1942 2,406,913 Serrano Sept. 3, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,403 Great Britain Mar. 16, 1906 

